What if Modi vs Rahul battle was TODAY?

What if Modi vs Rahul battle was TODAY?

Tired of hearing about Narendra Modi in the news? Well, if the results of a new poll are to be believed, you may well be hearing more on the Gujarat strongman in future.

According to the CNN-IBN-The Hindu polls conducted by the Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Modi has emerged as the most preferred choice as Prime Minister amongst all leaders across party line.

While 19 per cent of the respondents chose Modi for the top job amongst all leaders, only 12 per cent supported Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Rediff.com had conducted a similar poll in April 2013 where Modi had been overwhelmingly voted as the best suited candidate for the prime minister’s job (See that poll here).

Meanwhile, according to the CNN-IBN-The Hindu poll, incumbent Prime Minister Manmohan Singh comes third in the race for preferred choice as Prime Minister, as only 6 per cent respondents choose him amongst all leaders across party line. Only 5 per cent respondents choose Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as prime minister. L K Advani is the least preferred choice with only 2 per cent respondents backing him.

BJP to get more seats that Congress: Poll

The survey also found that the country is headed for yet another hung Parliament as both the leading alliances -- National Democratic Alliance and United Progressive Alliance -- are likely to end up with seats below half way mark.

The seat projections showed that the NDA is likely to get 172-180 seats while the UPA is likely to end up with 149-157 seats only, in case a of a snap poll today.

The Congress is likely to get 131-139 seats and the allies are likely to contribute only 15-21 seats to the UPA kitty. In the NDA camp the BJP is likely to get 156-164 seats while the allies are likely to get 13-19 seats only.

The survey highlighted that while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh managed to somehow sustain his image of an honest leader, his government has failed to impress with over 40 per cent of the respondents dissatisfied with the administration.

On possible reasons what went wrong with the UPA II dispensation, 81 per cent respondents faulted its inability to control prices while 69 per cent blamed growing corruption; 51 per cent lamented that the government had not done enough to curb terrorism; and 45 per cent blamed the government for the increased rich-poor divide